Urinary Incontinence:  Millions of Women Suffer In Silence
(continued)

National Association For Continence (NAFC) Stress Urinary Incontinence Survey Summary Of Key Findings

The survey results are based on telephone interviews with a sample of 1,039 women age 18 or older.  The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for NAFC under an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company.  The margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 3%. 

Prevalence

• Overall, 26% of women ages 18 and older reported experiencing an involuntary loss of urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing or doing physical activity during the last 30 days.

• Almost half (47%) of women reported knowing someone who has experienced these symptoms.  Of women in the 45 to 54 age group, 58% knew someone that experienced these symptoms. 

• The average age of women when they first experienced stress incontinence symptoms was 44.
  
  
• Only 13% of women in the general population believe stress incontinence symptoms can begin before the age of 40, yet the survey found 40% of women with symptoms first experienced them before age 40.

Misperceptions About Causes

• Overall, one-third (34%) of women are not aware that childbirth could put a woman at risk for urine leakage.  This is even higher among women ages 55 to 64.  Forty-five percent of women in this age group are not aware that childbirth could put a woman at risk.
  
  
• Forty-two percent believe that drinking a lot of liquids puts a woman at risk for these symptoms.  Over half (52%) of women ages 18-24 believe that this could put them at risk.
  
  
• Over one-quarter (26%) responded that feeling stressed in the office or home puts a woman at risk for developing these symptoms.  Over one-third (36%) of women ages 18 to 24 believe that stress in the office or home puts them at risk.
  
  
• One in five (20%) women ages 18 to 24 believes having "too much sex" puts a woman at risk for developing these symptoms.

• Of those women experiencing symptoms, only half had ever consulted their doctor.
  
  
• Women between the ages of 35 and 44 were the least likely to consult a doctor.  Only thirty-two percent of these women had consulted with their doctor. 

• Thirty-four percent of women stated that their leakage is just something that is supposed to happen as they age.
  
  
• Nearly one-third (31%) believe that their leakage is just something they have to live with.
  
  
• Close to one-quarter (22%) stated their doctor had not asked them about their urinary health.

• Only 28% of women with symptoms reported they had talked to their spouse or significant other about their symptoms.
  
  
• One-quarter reported that they had not spoken to anyone about their leakage.  This was even higher among women ages 35 to 44.  Thirty-five percent of women in this age group reported they had not spoken to anyone about their condition.
  
  
• Over half (53%) of women experiencing symptoms strongly agreed/somewhat agreed that they just don't like talking about their leakage symptoms.

• Overall, 58% of women experiencing symptoms reported having to make some type of change in their lifestyle as a result of their symptoms.
  
  
• One-third (31%) stated they had to always know where the closest bathroom is.  Forty-three percent of women over 55 felt this way.
  
  
• Approximately one in five women (19%) reported drinking less water or fewer beverages as a result of their symptoms.

• Women in general are unaware that leakage during coughing, sneezing, laughing or physical activity is symptomatic of a medical condition called stress urinary incontinence.  When asked the name of this condition, 69% stated they did not know.
  
  
• Further, two-thirds (66%) of women experiencing symptoms reported that they did not know the name of this condition.
  
  
• Only 3% of women in the general population stated the name of the condition was stress urinary incontinence or stress incontinence.  Only 8% of women with stress incontinence symptoms were able to name the condition.

For more information about incontinence, click here.

Created: 5/30/2002  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.